Gov. Nikki Haley on Monday warned the South Carolina legislature that she would call lawmakers into a special session if they do not move immediately to pass legislation removing the Confederate flag from the grounds of the state Capitol.
During a news conference Monday, Haley spoke eloquently about South Carolinians’ conflicting views about the Confederate battle flag. The Republican chief executive was sympathetic to those who see the emblem as a proud representation of their heritage and memorial to their ancestors. But Haley was firm in making clear that for many others, particularly African-Americans in South Carolina, the flag represents a past of racism and ugly division that has no place on the grounds of a Capitol that is supposed to serve all of the state’s residents.
“The fact that it causes pain to so many is enough to move it from the Capitol grounds. It is, after all, a Capitol that belongs to all of us,” Haley said, flanked by prominent South Carolinians of both parties, including Democratic Rep. James Clyburn and Republican Sens. Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott. “The General Assembly wraps up their year this week, and as governor I have the authority to call them back into session under extraordinary circumstances.
“I’ve indicated to the House and the Senate that if they do not take measures to ensure this debate takes place this summer, I will use that authority for the purpose of the legislature removing the flag from the state house grounds.”
The flag flies over a Confederate memorial adjacent to the state house, and can’t be removed without legislative action.
A debate over the Confederate battle flag erupted in the wake of the horrific murders of nine African-Americans who were worshipping inside the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, S.C. They were gunned down as they prayed last Wednesday evening by Dylann Roof, a 21-year-old white man whose goal was to start a race war. The investigation into the shooting has since turned up pictures of Roof with the Confederate flag.
“The events of this past week call upon us to look at this in a different way,” Haley said. “My hope is that by removing a symbol that divides us, we can move forward as a state in harmony and we can honor the nine blessed souls who are now in heaven.”
